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15 tips for better sound from your home audio system

I edit the home A/V and pro audio articles on Crutchfield.com. It's a cool gig for a guy who's been seriously into audio since way before 1974. I started buying records, guitars, and gear with the money I made mowing lawns and delivering newspapers. Now the way I earn my money has changed for the better, but where it goes hasn't changed too much. Just give me the proverbial three chords and the truth. I'll do my best to help you feel it, too.

Why do we we listen to music?

Simply put, music makes us feel good. How good? That depends on the quality of the sound produced by our audio systems. This article shows you some simple ways to improve the sound of your audio system and stoke your passion for music.

Bad sound kills our appetite for music

Bad sound fatigues our ears and leaves us uninspired. So we listen less, and our love of music wanes. To get better sound, you don’t have to spend a lot or make room for massive speakers. Here are 15 tips to get you headed in the right direction.

1 Try a new set of headphones

They’re the easiest and least costly way to get better sound. And you can enjoy them in lots of different places. You might want different sets for different activities. See our headphones buying guide.

2 Evaluate the gear you already own

If your system sounds bad or has an intermittent problem, check the wires and cables. Make sure the speakers are wired “in phase.” Remove the speaker grilles to see if there’s an obvious problem like foam rot. If everything is working properly, but your system still doesn’t sound great, it’s time to upgrade your gear, beginning with the weakest link.

3 Try a better digital-to-analog converter

Digital music must be converted to analog signals before you can hear it through speakers or headphones. For casual listening, the DAC inside your computer, phone, or tablet will suffice. For better sound, connect to an outboard DAC or a receiver or amplifier that has a hi-fi DAC built in. To learn more, see our DAC buying guide.

4 Tweak your streaming service quality settings

Spotify can stream at up to 320 kilobits-per-second (kbps), what they call “Extreme Quality.” But you have to dig into the settings to make that selection. Other streaming services have similar options.

5 Tweak your computer settings

If you use the default setting in iTunes, CDs are imported or “ripped” at 256 kilobytes per second. Look how much musical information gets thrown out during the conversion process. Try bumping the bit rate up to 320 kbps. Or try the Apple Lossless format, which takes about half of the disc space as the uncompressed WAV or AIFF formats.

6 Tweak your receiver settings

Some receivers offer a "Pure" or "Direct" mode that switches off unused or unneeded portions of your component's circuitry to provide the cleanest possible signal path. Give it a try. You might find that the resulting sound is clearer and more detailed. Or try the other sound enhancement settings.

7 Biamp your speakers

If your front speakers each have two pairs of input terminals, and your receiver's "surround back" channels are going unused, you may be able to redirect the surround power to biamp your front left and right speakers. This gives you four amp channels to drive your front speakers, essentially doubling the available power for more dynamic, higher-quality sound. For more info, check out Dave's post on biamping your speakers.

8 Create a space that’s just for listening

A traditional stereo system really shines in a room where you can sit facing the speakers. Think about converting a spare bedroom into a secluded listening room. If it's a small room, consider compact components.

9 Improve your room acoustics

Your room acoustics have as big an impact on the sound you hear as the quality of the components, speaker placement, or any other factor. Controlling the way sound is reflected off hard surfaces and absorbed by softer ones can be key to getting good sound. Learn more by reading our room acoustics article.

11 Design a system that works well in an open floor plan

A stereo system may not be the best choice for an open floor plan that includes your kitchen, dining space, and living space. You and your guests will be moving around a lot. Ceiling speakers or wireless speakers in strategic locations provide a more pleasing audio experience throughout the space.

12 Throw a listening party

Maybe we’ve all grown too accustomed to using music as audio wallpaper – just something that plays in the background while we do something else. Try making your music the focal point for a change. Invite some music-loving friends over for a listening party.

13 Learn how to listen

Knowing how to identify what's good or bad about the sound you hear will help fine-tune your system. And you'll get more out of product reviews if you understand the lingo professional reviewers use. Learn more by reading our article about how to listen.

14 Seek out good recordings

A well-engineered recording can make any system sound like a star. Both the print and web versions of Stereophile magazine feature an annual list of "Records to Die For" penned by the magazine's knowledgeable reviewers. And The Absolute Sound offers guides in a similar vein.

15 Go hear some live music

There’s nothing like a good concert to rekindle your love affair with music. At a live show, it’s easy to connect with the artist. A good home audio system will get you close to that experience, or at least tide you over until the next good show comes to town.

I have 4 binding posts on each speaker. how do I hook up to my receiver?

Jim Richardson from Crutchfield

Posted on 7/14/2015

Brian,
Sorry, but this isn't the place to get help with your installation. If you purchased your gear from Crutchfield, please call for tech support.

chet sky from Oakland

Posted on 7/20/2015

Not much helpful information for the average Joe. How can you measure a speaker's range? and whether such colors the music? Does one need a loudness contour control? I Tune compression unclear as to avoidance,especially if burning to a CD. Any digital speakers? thanks for the info
as for brian--the answer is "carefully"

Arnold Bradley from waterford

Posted on 8/11/2015

not only do you have affordable prices, I love the fact that your phones are always open to any questions or problems I have for equipment I've purchased from you.

Melissa from Toledo

Posted on 8/23/2015

Your prices are amazing and the service you provide customers is unrivaled. I'm a Crutchfield customer for life.

ROy from Monterey

Posted on 9/20/2016

Don't make me go through slides. The title got me here but I'm not even going to bother. It's annoying.

Dana from Madison, WI

Posted on 11/17/2016

Some of the lowest quality sound I've ever heard has been at live music performances. Where the sound mixer is set way, way off. Poor acoustics, speakers which are much worse than I have in my living room, muddy bass, etc.

Mike Pettit from Colorado Springs

Posted on 12/1/2016

7. Bi-amping your speakers does indeed increase their available power, but more importantly, it separates the bass and treble signals so they don't magnetically interact within the cable (this is one of the most common forms of distortion in a system).

Steve from Woodlands

Posted on 12/24/2016

If you want good sound you won't get it from a receiver designed to do home theatre. But something like a Classe processor or Primare the using separate amps will get you there.

Paul from Raleigh, NC

Posted on 12/26/2016

The comment from Mike P about biamping speakers in the manner mentioned here and in "Dave's post", having the benefit of separating bass and treble in the cable, is NOT true unless you are using an external crossover. You might get a bit more power overall but both cables are going to carry the full range signal up to the speaker's built in crossover. Simply put - aside from a little extra power, passive biamping does not provide much benefit.

Aurell Cater from Oakland

Posted on 1/7/2017

Thank you, excellent starting information. I am looking to do a serious upgrade to ALL my components. I have a lot to learn. ????????????

Wayne lee from Philadelphia pa 1906

Posted on 1/9/2017

What is the best way to use my iPadpro to get good music from iPad Pro to my system thank you for your input

Andrea Johnson from Sedro-Woolley WA

Posted on 1/19/2017

I have a stereo that is about 25 years or so. It is a good condition system, just old and we can't even figure out how to set stations. But our question is how do get a less scratchy sound out of it.

Robert Thompson from Saint Louis Missouri

Posted on 2/24/2017

I have kept my home stereo system simple. A pair of speakers with a subwoofer and a receiver and a cd player is perfect for me. Also since I love music cds I don't use music streaming services.

David from Arlington

Posted on 3/15/2017

I second that on seeking GOOD recordings. The majority of CDs and other digital formats made in the last 15 to 20 years have been mastered using hyper compression, brick wall limiting, and even intentional clipping in order to make them sound louder overall. This isn't just with newer stuff either, I have come across many reissues of older recordings that have gotten this treatment as well during remastering.

roque valcarcel from new york

Posted on 3/16/2017

im interested in buying a new cd player im considering the nad 166be or the Yamaha 300 both are priced the same I play lots of cdr s which machine do you prefer since im going to buy it from you folks any way thanx

William of WBs sound from upper sandusky

Posted on 4/4/2017

I tri amp and good equalization is a very important factor when the room isn't very listener friendly. Great mids and high frequency drivers are essential for good sound always connect your speakers in phase +to + and of - to - or you will have loss of bass and weird sounding effect

Tom from Clinton

Posted on 7/6/2017

The Onkyo and Yamaha receivers look very much alike. I am wondering if they are made by he same company or companies.

Alan from The Edge of the World from Dacula

Posted on 7/29/2017

You know, my ears over the years have lost a lot of the "audiophile" ability that they once had. It's from playing my music way too loud, and now I'm paying the price. What my friends say is spot-on sounds to me to be heavy on the base side. Now I use a set of over-the-ears headphones that cancel out any outside sounds and allows me to taylor the bass and treble to suit my needs. The closeness of the speakers greatly reduces my need to turn up my tunes to "eleven"...
Having said that, I do have a few questions. How far is the ideal distance to sit from my speakers? How important is the angle of the speakers, as in should they angle up or should they be straight up and down? What about size of tweeters and woofers? Are midranges that important?

Jim Richardson from Crutchfield

Posted on 8/18/2017

Thanks for your comment. You'll find lots of great tips on how to position your speakers and your furniture in our article about stereo speaker placement: https://www.crutchfield.com/learn/learningcenter/home/nonHTspeak.html. Hope this helps.

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